Within the city of Kansas City, it is customary for individuals who work in a business that serves alcohol to obtain an employee liquor permit.

The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and the Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City would like to eliminate that requirement.

During a Public Safety Committee Meeting held Wednesday at Kansas City’s City Hall, businesses leaders, bar managers, and waiters argued against the regulated industry requirement. For more on story.

Arrests made
in hotel theft/
gunfire caseOne suspect charged,
others soon will be

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

One suspect has already been charged in connection with several vehicle break-ins that resulted in a hotel guest being shot in the leg by a stray bullet, and police on Tuesday said more arrests have been made.

The Platte County Prosecutor's Office charged 18-year-old Roderick D. Thompson of Kansas City with four felony counts of tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree. Thompson is currently being held at the Jackson County Detention Center.For more on story.

RODERICK D. THOMPSON

Plant could bring 300
new jobs to Riverside

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

Construction just wrapped up on a 275,560-square foot automotive manufacturing facility in the Riverside Horizons Industrial Park.

Martinrea International, the owner of the recently constructed $19 million facility, is an Ontario-based manufacturer of quality steel and aluminum metal parts for the automotive and industrial sector. Their production of automotive parts is supplied to vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers around the world. For more on story.

It was a busy night at the Thursday meeting of the Platte County R-3 School Board despite the onslaught of sleet, freezing rain and snow that impeded many rush-hour commuting patrons’ journey from work. Winter weather warnings and numerous motor vehicle accidents did not prevent the district's business from moving forward as planned. There were contracts to approve and policies to change.

The board renewed the contract for Dr. Michael Reik to remain in the leadership role as the district's superintendent. The contract was approved unanimously by all board members present in a closed session prior to the board’s regular meeting. Board member Lori Bogart was absent. The Landmark has put in a request for terms of the contract but had not yet heard back as of deadline. For more on story.

TENSIONS
RISING
AT
PARKVILLECity wants audit
of downtown
tax district

by Alan McArthur
Landmark reporter

Frustrations between two groups in Parkville have reached the point that the board of aldermen has asked the Missouri state auditor to audit the Parkville Old Towne Market Community Improvement District (CID).

The CID operates independently of the city and collects its own tax revenue through a one percent special sales tax within the downtown district. The only authority the city has over the CID is to approve the board members.

The board of aldermen approves the directors for the CID, but several slates of

proposed directors have been submitted and declined by the board since June 2014.

On Sept. 10, the board and Nan Johnston, mayor, sent a letter to the CID, which was obtained by The Landmark.

The letter lists eight actions the CID could address to get a slate approved by the board.

Many of the items request changes to the bylaws of the CID in order to limit an interim director to 60 days and allow the board of aldermen to reject individual members from a list of proposed directors instead of the entire list. For more on story.

Dairy Farmers
of America
moving out of
Platte CountyLARGE EMPLOYER HEADING TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), with reported $18 billion in revenue last year, will be relocating its headquarters outside of Platte County.

On Tuesday, Kansas City's largest private company publicly announced its plan to build a new global headquarters in Kansas City, Kan.

According to a press release posted on the DFA website, the company plans on relocating its existing 325 local employees.

Dairy Farmers of America has leased the headquarters located at 10220 N. Ambassador Drive along Interstate 29 in Platte County since its inception 16-years-ago.

Its new state-of-the-art headquarters is currently being constructed in the burgeoning Village West area in Wyandotte County, Kan... For more on story.

An announcement Tuesday confirmed one of the largest private companies in Platte County will be relocating across the state line. Dairy Farmers of America--who reportedly handles the direct marketing of 60.6 billion pounds of milk, which is about 30 percent of the milk supply in America--announced plans to move its headquarters, which is currently housed in this building on the east side of Interstate 29 in the KCI corridor. Valerie Verkamp/Landmark photo

Sleeping hotel guest
struck by stray bulletSuspects in car break-ins
had fired gun at a witness

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

A stray bullet entered a first floor window at an airport hotel and struck a guest in the leg.

The incident happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday at the Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham located at 11831 NW Plaza Circle Drive, Kansas City in Platte County, east of Interstate 29 not far from KCI Airport.

A massive hole can be seen where the bullet made its way through the thick glass of the hotel room window.

A longtime guest service agent at the hotel said at least two shots hit the hotel. The individual struck by the stray bullet was most likely asleep at the time and was not an intended target, he added.

Police say the guest's injury is non-life-threatening. Authorities say he is recovering at an area hospital.

Detectives with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were reviewing video surveillance Tuesday morning and combing through all accessible evidence. ... For more on story.

At least two shots hit the Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham at 3 a.m. on Tuesday. A single bullet penetrated this hotel window on the first floor and stuck a sleeping hotel guest in the leg.

Perpetrators broke out multiple truck windows and made off with items from inside vehicles parked at several KCI Airport area hotels early Tuesday. Valerie Verkamp/Landmark photos

EDC works ‘very hard’
on retaining businessesPlatte County’s business environment
seen as relatively stable

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

In conjunction with a major announcement involving the loss of one of Platte County's largest employers, the Platte County Economic Development Council released its annual business retention report.

On Tuesday, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) announced its plan to construct a new at-of-the-art headquarters in Wyandotte County, Kansas (see related story above). In the days preceding the public announcement, there was much speculation the largest private company in Kansas City was indeed preparing to leave Platte County.

“Platte County Economic Development Council (EDC) is disappointed to lose DFA which located to Platte County in 1998. We have been working this active retention project for about a year and a half and put forth the best possible proposal with our partners at Missouri Department of Economic Development and the EDC of Kansas City,” said Alicia Stephens, executive director of the Platte County Economic Development Council.

Stephens avoided directly commenting on any last minute efforts to retain Dairy Farmers of America, but indicated the Platte County EDC is “working very hard” on several retention projects. For more on story.

Man charged with
shooting wife in kneeSuspect held on $350k cash-only bond

by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark assistant editor

Charges have been filed against a Platte County man who allegedly fired a bullet into his wife's knee.

The story of the shooting was first reported by The Landmark on last week’s front page.

The Platte County Prosecutor's Office charged 39-year-old Travis D. Potter, Kansas City in Platte County, with first degree felony assault and felony armed criminal action.

Platte County Associate Circuit Court Judge Abe Shafer set his bond at $350,000 cash only. Should the defendant post bond, he is prohibited from having any contact with the victim and prohibited from possessing a firearm. For more on story.

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